President to seek Indian assistance for Estate Housing

by Rohana Jayalal

President Maithripala Sirisena during his visit to India will submit a proposal seeking a grant assistance of around US$ 260 million to construct houses for the estate workers in upcountry tea plantations.

President Sirisena, who will start a four-day visit to India today, seeks assistance to construct 20,000 houses for estate workers in the plantation sector.

The houses will be built in the districts of Nuwara Eliya including Hatton, Badulla, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Kandy, Matale and Galle. In addition, the money will be used for re-roofing and improving 30,000 existing Line Rooms to provide better living conditions, as an interim measure.